Bangladesh national and HP team likely to leave for Sri Lanka on Sep 23

Bangladesh national team and HP team are likely to leave for Sri Lanka on September 23 for their upcoming series, informed Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) cricket operations chairman Akram Khan today following a meeting at the BCB headquarters. 

Bangladesh's three-Test series against Sri Lanka is scheduled to start from October 24. The BCB has also proposed for a three-match T20I series but it still remains uncertain. Akram also informed that the national team will practice for about 10-12 days in the country in mid-September before leaving for Sri Lanka with the HP team. 

"We have settled on a date when we will be travelling to Sri Lanka. We may practice for 10-12 days here in Bangladesh in the middle of September before going to Sri Lanka with the HP team along with us. We will practice for 20-25 days together and then on October 24 our series will commence," informed Akram today.

A 24-member HP squad will be announced for the Sri Lanka series. The BCB will be bearing the costs of both the national and HP squads before the start of the HP series. After the HP series kicks off, all the expenses of the HP squad will then go under the Sri Lankan board. 

Another issue addressed during today's meeting was regarding the involvement of premier all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan in the upcoming Sri Lanka tour. Shakib's ban from cricket, imposed by the ICC last year October for the all-rounder's failure in reporting corrupt approaches on three occasions, will come to an end on October 29 and Akram informed that there is still a lot that needs to be discussed regarding his return to cricket. 

"Shakib will be free [from the imposed ban] on October 29 and till then he can not practice with the team. We will have to discuss this issue with the head coach, Shakib himself and also with the board president and then come to a decision," informed Akram.